UN Security Council backs strong U.S. stand against Iraq

NEW YORK -- Secretary of State Colin Powell gained diplomatic support for the strong U.S. stand against Saddam Hussein, winning approval Friday from all members of the U.N. Security Council for President Bush's assertion that the Iraqi leader poses a

BARRY SCHWEID

Published 12:00 am, Saturday, September 14, 2002

Still, Bush said he doubts Saddam would give up his weapons even in the face of U.N. demands or the U.S. threat of military force.

Powell's diplomacy was only the beginning of what could be an extended process of drafting a resolution that would demand -- again -- that Iraq open its weapons sites for inspection and destroy any weapons found.

"I think all the members of the council are now seized with the issue, recognize the challenge that Iraq does present to international law and to the mandate of the Security Council," Powell said after a series of meetings in which he pressed Bush's demand for Iraqi disarmanent.

But the secretary gave no indication that he received endorsement for using force against Baghdad, as Bush has suggested may be necessary. And Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan said in a speech to the General Assembly that his government sought a political settlement, thereby hinting that it would not endorse force.

"Efforts should be made to prevent the arbitrary enlargement of the scope of a counterterrorism campaign," he said.

As a permanent Security Council member, China could kill any resolution with a veto.

And Powell said that while Arab nations that make up the Gulf Coordination Council offered "understanding and support," they reminded him that the Arab League is opposed to a conflict in the region.

By next week, Powell said, the ministers will have had a chance to consult with their capitals. He stressed that he had not taken up the wording of a resolution. And as he took questions at the delegates' entrance to U.N. Secretariat, Powell said that Arab ministers probably would be in touch with Saddam.

Earlier, foreign ministers of the U.N. Security Council's permanent five nations said that Iraq's refusal to obey past U.N. resolutions "is a serious matter and that Iraq must comply."

The U.N. resolution would set a deadline for the return of weapons inspectors to Iraq and warn of serious consequences if Saddam continued to reject such an arrangement.

"We're talking days and weeks, not months and years," Bush said.

"I am highly doubtful that he will meet our demands. I hope he does but I'm highly doubtful," Bush said as he wound up talks with foreign leaders.

Bush also wants congressional backing for possible military action against Iraq and he spoke mockingly of Democrats who have been holding back.

"Democrats waiting for the U.N. to act?" Bush asked with chuckle.

"I can't imagine an elected ... member of the United States Senate or House of Representatives saying, 'I think I'm going to wait for the United Nations to make a decision.' "

Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov, in the midst of consultations with Powell, said of Saddam: "If he refuses to cooperate with the U.N. Security Council, the Iraqi government will take responsibility itself for possible consequences."

Besides Russia and the United States, the other three permanent members are Britain, France and China.

While the Russian support could be a boost for Bush, the president was still struggling to draw support from Congress.

Democratic leaders said the administration must provide more information on threats posed by Saddam and on U.S. plans for removing the Iraqi president before Congress considers a resolution in support of military action.

"This is very serious business. Let's slow it down a bit," Sen. Joseph Biden, chairman of the Foreign Relations Committ-ee, said Friday.

Senate Majority Leader Thomas Daschle, a South Dakota Democrat, has said he hasn't yet seen enough evidence to justify going to war against Saddam.

Still, on Capitol Hill, there was some good news for the administration.

Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman, D-Conn., said he would work with members of both parties to try to draw up a congressional resolution.

The aim, he said, is "the broadest possible bipartisan support for the president, as commander in chief, as he works to protect our nation and the world from Saddam Hussein."

Congress is preparing to hold at least five hearings on the confrontation with Iraq.

Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz dismissed Bush's speech, and in turn his remarks were dismissed by White House spokesman Ari Fleischer. "Obviously, they have something to hide," he said of the Iraqis.

Cheney, appearing on the Rush Limbaugh radio program, rejected any idea that the administration's Iraq policy was geared to elections in November.

"Every other year is an election year and you can't take half the calendar and put it off-limits. This is an issue the president and I have talked about now for months," he said.

Cheney said the administration expects to provide Congress with more evidence to back up its allegations about Saddam.

And Gen. Richard Myers, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said in Washington that the United States has evidence Iraq has made mobile laboratories to make chemical or biological weapons.